Brown challenges Seavey in MDJ race

LONDON GROVE >> Two former constables are vying in the primary election for a magisterial district judge seat in Southern Chester County.

Incumbent Matt Seavey, of West Grove, who is presently serving his second term in the position, is facing off against newcomer Bobby Brown, of Franklin Township.

Seavey has chosen to cross-file on both the Republican and Democratic primary ballots, but is running unopposed in the Republican primary. Brown is only running in the Democratic primary.

District Court 15-04-04 covers seven municipalities including the townships of London Grove, West Marlborough, Franklin, London Britain, New Garden and the boroughs of West Grove, and Avondale.

Seavey has won two elections consecutively during the last 12 years and this is his third race. He grew up in Springfield, Delaware County.

Prior to becoming a judge, he served as a Pennsylvania State Constable for seven years.

In Pennsylvania, magisterial district judges handle small claims, landlord tenant cases, traffic and nontraffic citations, and rule on preliminary hearings for those charged with felonies and misdemeanors, as previously reported in the Daily Local News. The parttime position has a salary of $89,438.

Seavey is a member of the Special Court Judges Association of Pennsylvania. He moved to Chester County 21 years ago.

He said a milestone during his last 12 years serving as a local judge has been helping at-risk youth.

“If I can stop a kid from going down a (destructive path), I’m all in,” he said.

“I created a truancy program that is second-to-none in the county,” Seavey said. “The goal is for them to go to school and get their grades up,” he said of local youth.

The Republican Committee of Chester County has endorsed Seavey.

“I would like to thank my predecessor Judge Tom Martin and Paul Yoder, my former partner, for inspiring me,” Seavey said on Tuesday.

Seavey became certified to serve as a local judge 14 years ago. He was first sworn in onto the bench in January 2010.

He said the number-one important role for a magisterial district judge is protecting the community.

“There’s a difference between a common criminal and someone who just makes a mistake,” Seavey said. “And with my background, I know that difference.”

He said, the best part of his job is when people approach him at the Wawa or Acme and say, ‘You saved my life.’

“When someone comes up to me and tells me I saved their life, it is the greatest feeling in the world.”

Running against Matt Seavey is newcomer Bobby Brown.

The Chester County Democratic Committee has endorsed Brown.

Brown’s family has lived in Landenberg for more than 100 years. He is a resident of Franklin Township.

The Landenberg native is scheduled to receive his certification to become a magisterial district judge in June, after the primary race on May 18.

Brown worked as a Pennsylvania State Constable for 14 years.

He graduated from Avon Grove High School in 1987. He resides in Landenberg with his wife, Marie, and two sons, Andre and Julian.

“A measure of success is if one person being on the bench can influence others to further their education, get involved with their community, and be a part of the solution and not the problem,” Brown said.

Additionally, he’s held a career during the last four decades in the manufacturing industry.

Today Brown works as a manufacturing supervisor with Bloom Energy, based in Newark, Delaware.

“I had a lot of people talk to me about this position,” Brown said. “This just didn’t pop up this year.”

Brown said on Tuesday he doesn’t want to run for judge, he needs to.

“I think there is a possible higher calling and the examples I can set,” Brown said. “I can probably change some people’s lives,” he said that if he can run for judge and potentially win then why not someone else achieve something that they feel compelled to do to make a difference.

“There are just so many positives,” Brown said.

The primary elections will take place May 18.

Seavey

Brown